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UK / NORTH ENGLAND
Asian Voice - Saturday 28th August 2010
Communities in the UK working for a change All communities in the UK can play an active role in supporting and campaigning in different ways to help alleviate poverty. Whether it’s giving money to good causes or placing a signature on a petition to lobby governments to make a change, people can get involved and make an impact. Oxfam is engaging increasingly with Asian communities in the UK who have strong links to India, Pakistan and Bangladesh where Oxfam works. Sheeba Harma is Oxfam’s South Asian community engagement manager. Her work involves developing relationships with South Asian communities around the UK, to make them more aware of Oxfam’s work. She has just returned from India where she saw first hand the scale of poverty and the importance of Oxfam’s work. “Working in the UK, you have to sometimes be reminded of the desperate need in other countries. Going to India reinforced to me, why I was doing my role. It has made me want to tell as many people about what needs to be done and how Oxfam can help”, she said. Sheeba’s job involves working with diverse communities to listen and learn from their experiences and to share Oxfam’s experiences with them. As Oxfam’s motto is working with others to overcome poverty, this is an integral part of the organisation’s work. Sheeba was born in Kerala, India and has
always been active in helping communities and pushing for change. During her school days, she would look around to see where things had to be made fairer. Her first campaign was to lobby her school for more seats for children from the poorest low-income families. The campaign was successful and had a lasting impact on the school. Before working for Oxfam, Sheeba campaigned on many things such as the environment, women’s issues and human rights. She also volunteered during the Gujarat earthquake of 2002 where she worked in community kitchens providing cooked food to survivors. Her passion and work led her to a PhD in gender and education at the Indian Institute of Technology in Delhi. It was during this time that she helped set up youth groups, focusing on environmental issues. In 2001 during the international year of volunteers, Sheeba researched the degradation of the river Yamuna in Delhi for the UN. In 2002 as she traveled to work, Sheeba noticed small children between five and 10 years old not going to school but ironing clothes. After speaking to some of the children, she felt compelled to set up tutoring in English and Maths for them, which eventually led to her working with others to set up a girls school in rural Uttar Pradesh. In 2003 Sheeba moved to the UK and worked in the development field. She joined Oxfam in 2007
Sheeba Harma from Oxfam visits a school in India
Jonaid Jilani
using her experience and skills to build partnerships and engaging with South Asian communities. One of the ways in which Sheeba has brought Oxfam closer to the Asian community in the UK is by working closely with the British Asian Women’s Association. The association was keen to help people in poverty in the UK and got involved by raising funds within the association for Oxfam. The partnership continues and now the association is looking at ways for people to donate old sarees and other unwanted items to Oxfam shops. They have also encouraged women in their association to volunteer and a number of members have got involved with Oxfam shops. Harvinder Baxi, the chair of the British Asian Women’s Association said,” We work with Oxfam because we feel that Oxfam carries out excellent charitable work, and therefore we believe that the funds we donate will be used for deserving causes”. Harvinder’s husband Ranjit Baxi was Asian of the Year in 2008. Ranjit’s recycling business has been particularly supportive of Oxfam’s work in recycling goods from Oxfam shops that cannot be sold. Sheeba continues her passion and understands the power of partnerships and sharing. “Bringing people together is key to my work, making sure that individuals and organisations who share a common value come together and work side by side is so crucial to help us in alleviating poverty”, she said.
For more information about Oxfam and its India project or to donate please call 0300 200 1242
Egg and sperm donors could get up to £800 in payments Egg and sperm donors could receive payments of £800 under proposals to tackle shortages in supply, it has been revealed. Currently the Human Fertility and Embryology Authority (HFEA) imposes a £250 cap on payments so as to avoid commercialising the procedure. But the low payment is thought to be behind a shortage in egg and sperm
donation which is driving infertile women and men to overseas – often unregulated – clinics, according to research. Now the HFEA is considering adopting the Spanish system which would see the payment cap lifted to £800. “We want to review egg donation,” Professor Lisa Jardine, the chair of the HFEA told the Sunday
Times. “We are suggesting moving closer to the Spanish system. But there is no suggestion of adopting the US model where a good-looking girl with a degree can get $30,000 (£19,000) for her eggs.” A report will go to the HFEA’s executive next month, setting out the proposed higher payments.
Alpesh Patel’s Political Sketchbook: How politicians commit genocide and all our actions have interconnected consequences and the US might save the world Genocide, Naomi Campbell, Blood Diamonds, Nelson Mandela, Bhutto, Pakistan relief. Not words you expect in the same sentence. On the BBC you may have seen the genocide trial at the International Criminal Court in the Hague in which Naomi Campbell appeared. It is the trial of the former Liberian leader accused of funding genocide through the sale of ‘blood diamonds’. It is an important reminder that even what might be considered the ‘air head’ profession of fashion and modelling has consequences and we live in an interconnected world of humanity. Why does it matter? Ms Campbell is a key witness to proving whether or not as a supermodel she received blood diamonds from the Liberian leader. If she did it would prove he had access to them. If he did then it’s a short step to proving he funded arms dealing and the use of arms thereby acquired for mass murder. Why did Ms Campbell get diamonds? Because she was a fashion icon and model. Even fashion models have responsibilities it would appear. Genocide and the responsibilities of super-
models in the chain of events is not why the Liberian story is important. As thousands die in Pakistan, the United Nations questions why more people are not donating to the humanitarian relief operation. One of the reasons offered is the potential donor fear that the money will be stolen by corrupt Pakistani politicians and bureaucrats. Why? Although Pakistan is not alone in regional countries troubled by a history of political and bureaucratic corruption, the consequences of the past and present corrupt actions of its leaders and civil servants have caught up with it to the detriment of its people. At this time of need, each and every Pakistani politician and bureaucrat who ever took a bribe is responsible for the deaths of all those poor people dying and destitute in the floods. It is because the country, indeed the region, is renowned for corruption that the aid is not being donated. This is not Jinnah’s Pakistan. Those politicians are as morally culpable of genocide in Pakistan as the Liberian leader in his own country. The sins of their
fathers can befall not just the children, but the children of others, just as a Supermodel can be in the chain of events of genocide. But in the tragedy there comes hope. Not hope because the generous people of India are one of the largest donors, not because the generous people of Britain are one of the largest donors. But because the US military has been out visibly saving lives and through that action shown the people on the ground that they are not the real enemy. Moreover, where is the help from Saudi Arabia? Iran? No matter India, Britain and the US will take responsibility for the consequence of the actions of others. If the US pours its armed forces into relief work in Pakistan, it can win the war on terror and save the world without killing but through saving lives. The US needs to move quick, this disaster is not just an act of God, but a godsend. (Or as one Pakistani friend of mine put it, ‘if this is how God treats those who profess to be his most ardent supporters, what hope for the rest of us?’)
More parents rely on grandparents Grandparents are playing a vital role in helping parents return to work, by looking after their children, often for free, according to new research. A survey of 2,000 working parents, mainly women, showed that almost half depended on their own mothers and fathers to help out with childcare so they could work, with two out of five using childminders, friends or other members of their family. Just 4% of those surveyed by online jobs website Workingmums.co.uk employed a nanny or au pair, with almost half of grandparents looking after children for free. Two out of five mothers
said the cost of childcare was preventing them from returning to work, with one in 10 of those polled paying more than £750 a month. One in four said childcare cost them £250 a month and a similar number paid between £250 and £750. Family-friendly companies were said to be those offering flexible hours, working from home and part-time jobs, according to the report. Gillian Nissim, founder of Workingmums.co.uk, said: “The survey shows just how important grandparents are in helping parents get back into the workplace. Working mums are able to contribute sig-
nificantly to the British economy as a result of their parents looking after their children. Without their help, it would be impossible for many mums to go back to work - grandparents not only help with the childcare but also keep childcare costs to a minimum.” Sam Smethers, chief executive of Grandparents Plus, said: “This survey confirms that working mums are increasingly relying on grandparents for childcare. Families are under increasing financial pressure and grandparents are helping to bridge the childcare gap. It is time we start recognising the growing contribution of grandparents.”
Burglar admits damaging house A burglar admitted causing damage at a house he raided. Abdul Gaffar Dossani (35) pleaded guilty at Leicester Crown Court to breaking into a property
in Spinney Hills, from where a radiator and a gas meter were taken, reported Leicester Mercury. Dossani also admitted damaging window
frames, door frames, carpet and internal fixtures, on May 16. The case was adjourned until September 14 for the preparation of a pre-sentence report.